Location: Chulai Port, Vietnam
Depth: 25m–30m
Equipment Deployed:
Drill Diameter: 1.2m
Project Background
Vietnam Chu Lai Port Expansion, cofferdam project public tender, our client was lucky to win the bid, our company for the construction side to provide large diameter pile hole construction programme and part of the construction equipment
Construction overview:
Challenges & Solutions
| Issue | Solution |
| Collapse in soft soil layers | Full casing advancement with 1–1.2m diameter steel collar (40mm thickness) |
| Low drilling efficiency in hard rock layers
Basalt seabed rock (uniaxial compressive strength: 100–150MPa) causing excessive bit wear |
Custom rotary wing drill bits + high-pressure DTH hammers |
| Marine construction challenges
Dynamic tidal loads causing water pressure fluctuations in boreholes |
Casing to casing connection with locking clips |
Construction Process
With the rotary head turned forward and open, the drill diameter can be up to 1250mm, allowing the 1200mm casing to be brought directly into the rock formation. Five 1600CFM high-pressure air compressors can provide enough high-pressure air to blow out the debris, thus realising the construction of large-diameter pile holes.
In order to ensure the smooth implementation of the project, our company arranged three technicians to go to Vietnam for 28 days for on-site guidance.
Results
On 31st January, the first casing pile of the project was successfully tested, and 6 metres into the rock was completed within 4 hours, laying a solid foundation for the expansion of Chulai Port Phase II.
Previously, it took 15 days to drive one pile. After replacing our equipment, the efficiency was increased to 1-2 pile holes in 1 day.
The programme is expected to give the port a carrying capacity of 500,000 tonnes
